Against the Odds book launch

The Knysna seahorse is endemic to the South African coastline and is actually only known to be found in three estuaries in the world: Keurbooms, Knysna and the Swartvlei system in Sedgefield.

Interest in the marine life of the Keurbooms Estuary proved to be tremendous at last year’s Marine Science Symposium during the Plett Ocean Festival where Melissa’s colleague, Dr. Chantel Elston presented an impressive and well-received talk: “What lives in the Keurbooms Estuary?” The festival and marine science symposium will take place again this year in Plettenberg Bay from 30 June - 9 July 2023.

The limited range of the Knysna seahorse does put it at risk of extinction, and conservation plays a very important role. In fact, in the Keurbooms Estuary, a period of strong river flow may even have resulted in temporary extinction of this beautiful species in that location. Thankfully, the seahorse was found again in the estuary during more recent surveys conducted by the ORCA Foundation, with indications that the population diminished due to floods in 2007 and 2011.

The release of a new coffee table book, Against the Odds, is the remarkable story of leopards at the Cape that celebrates these big cats and conservation efforts to protect them.

Endorsed by Dame Jane Goodall, with a Foreword by Dr Ian McCallum and magnificent cover image by National Geographic photographer Steve Winter, the 144-page hard cover book is a visual feast with high quality photographs that reveal the magnificence of leopards at the Cape.

The book, written in accessible narrative style by environmental journalist John Yeld, explores the early history and persecution of leopards in the region and how attitudes to these cats have changed over the past 400-odd years. It delves into the birth and coming of age of leopard research and conservation at the Cape, with a focus on the Cape Leopard Trust and the people who have made the organisation what it is today. The book features poignant personal accounts from various role players who have dedicated much time and effort to secure a future for leopards, and shines a light on the importance of these truly wild and elusive felines.

Against the Odds will be available at the Cape Leopard Trust online shop bit.ly/CLTAgainstTheOdds

NOTICE FOR A WATER USE LICENCE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR WATER USES AS DEFINED IN SECTION 21(a), (c), (e) & (i) OF THE NATIONAL WATER ACT, 1998 (ACT NO. 36 OF 1998) (NWA) FOR THE VAL DE VIE PHASE II DEVELOPMENT, DRAKENSTEIN LOCAL MUNICIPALITY, WESTERN CAPE REFERENCE NUMBER: WU23053

Applicant Val de Vie Investments (Pty) Ltd

Consultant Water Use Licence Associates (Pty) Ltd

Project Location Erf 967, Erf 970, Erf 971, Erf 993, and Erf 1070, Paarl, Drakenstein Local Municipality.

Details of Applications, Activities and Water Uses

Triggered

Notice is hereby given for a Water Use Licence Application (WULA) process in terms of Section 21 of NWA for water use activities associated with the Val de Vie Phase II development The relevant licensing authority for the WULA process is the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS).

The Applicant wishes to abstract water from groundwater resources at the “Val de Vie Phase II development”. The development comprises residential households, restaurants, recreational areas as well as a large biodiversity corridor. As part of the upkeep of the estate water is required for landscape and agricultural irrigation. The Applicant therefore proposes to apply for Section 21(a) water use activity for the abstraction of groundwater from numerous existing boreholes and from surface water for use for landscape irrigation. Furthermore, water use activity Section 21(e) is also triggered for landscape irrigation Additionally, since the water uses will be within the 500m regulated zone of a wetland, a Section 21(c) and (i) water use activity will be triggered for the maintenance of the boreholes. Opportunity to Participate As part of the public participation process, the public is provided a 60-day period from 24 March 2023 to 29 May 2023 to register as an Interested and Affected Party (I&AP) and review and comment on the application. I&APs are invited to submit comments and/or register on the stakeholder database by contacting the consultant below. Alternatively, the following link can be used: https://forms.office.com/r/wvXgX9Au86

Contact bianca@sasenvgroup.co.za